Hood latch



June 9, 1953 A. c LAuD-MANTLE Hoon LATCH Filed Feb. 4. 1949 W PW June 9, 1953 A. cLAuD-MANTLE 2,641,017

HOOD LATCH Filed Feb. 4, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS June 9, 1953 A. LAUDMANTLE 2,641,017

Hoon LATCH l Filed Feb. 4. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTOR N EYS June 9, 1953 A. CLAUDMANTLE HOOD LATCH Filed Feb. 4. 1949 ATTOR N EVS June 9, 1953 A. CLAUD-MANTLE 2,641,017

Hoon LATCH Filed Feb. 4. 1949 5 sheets-sheet 5 ATTO R N EYS Patented .une 9, 1953 UNITED PATENT ot Fiel?.

2,641,017 ,noon LATCH Arthur -,Clau'dlMantle, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to The 'Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., .a

corporation of "Connecticut Application February 4, 1949,'S'erialiNo. 74,599

(Cl. 1li-128.1)

`9 Claims.

vThis invention relates :to :hood latches, v.and more particularly to vlatches for so-called dualti-p hood lids, namely, lids that extend yacross the engine enclosure and can -be released and raise at either side.

The :hood latch of the `present inventiencan be regarded as a variation -or modification of the device described in Imy application Serial No. 170,827, filed January 14,1949.

The latch -herein disclosedis of akind .-in'which the `:lid has fixed pivots disposed -laterallyand outwardlywof the engine enclosure -or well, but in some phases nof the invention this is not essential.

One of the objects is to simplify `and improve the structure of ldual-tip hood latches.

Another object is to provide for tighter and more secure latching .of the -lid Vto the fixed `part of the engine enclosure.

Another object is to provide :a :hood latch in which `fixed `pivots are employed for ,the :bolt members, wherein any looseness or play in association with the vpivots is eliminated when the lid is Ain the latched position,

l'n the vaccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is atop ,plan view of the hood portion .of .an automobile equipped Witha hoodlatch-embodying my improvements, the rhood lid being closed;

Fig. 2 'is aside elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is asection on line 3-3 of Fig. -1

Fig. 4 is ,a `cross-sectional view showing on a larger scale certain parts at the right of Fig.. 3;;

Fig; 5 is a .top `plan view of the vkeeper and detent ,structure shown in Fig. 4, :the bolt member being omitted;

Fig. `6 is a top ,plan View of thezbolt y.member and its .mounting :shown in Eig. f4, the keeper and detent structure .being omitted;

Fig. `F7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the lid Yin raised position;

1Eig. 8 is a sectional `view showing the side Sof the lid in raised vposition with ,respect to the bolt member;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged bottom plan View of a portion of the lid looking in the direction -of the arrows `9---9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l0 .is an enlarged `bottom plan view .of ,a portion .of .the lid looking in the direction oflar'-4 rows -Ill-lll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a detail of thebrac'ket on which the bolt member is mounted; and l Fig. '12 is an endview of the bolt member looking `from the Vleft-'hand end of Fig. 6, the -crosspin being omitted.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated in connection W-ithan automotive vehicle having Ian engine compartment or well defined at the sides by upright Walls at the top of which are located mud guards which 'extend in a lateral direction, the Walls of the Well ybeing notched or out away to receive pivoted Abolt members that -have pivots located laterally outside of the well, said bolt members having rbolting ends that extend into the well to which the Jmarginal vportion of the lid is adapted to belatched. I-n this form there are two :latching and hinging devices associated with each `side of the hood, one being near the rear .end and the other near the :front vend, and these devices, located at the same side er" Athe car, have their latching 'mechanism operable by and from a torsion-rod-swinging `device located be- :tween the ends fof -a torsion rod equipped with cranklike latching extremities that cooperate with the bolt members previously mentioned, `the .torsionrod-swinging device in turnbeing operable from a lever -device carried lby the lid adjacent the rear, end of the latter. The torsionrodswinging device,.operating upon the intermediate portion of thetorsion rod, may be of a suitable .'kind, for example, that shown .in the Moore Patent 2,000,245-of May '7, 1935.

In this particular form the bolt member has an upper .bail-'like part .for loopradapted to project upwardly into an -apertured keeper bracket carried by' the .lid and :provided in a reinforcing cross strip carried by the lid, Aand the latching effect is produced by the crank-like end of the torsion rod, the torsion Vrod being journaled in the keeper portion andthe crank-,like extremity or detent being ladapted to enter'the bail-like part `from beneath and to engage and .secure the bolt member in the manner hereinafter described.

In the drawings, the .lid vis indicated at 26, the engine well at 2;I, and the upper parts of the mud guards at 22. The llever device adjacent the rearend ofthe lid is indicated at 23., the associated longitudinal `torsion rod at k21%, the `cranklike extremities of the torsion rod at "25, and the torsion-rod-swinging device or element operable from lever 23, at 2B. The four latching and hinging devices associated with the torsion rod are indicated at 2l, the two forward devices 2 being associated with la forward .transverse carrier strip and bracket structure, indicated `at 28, and the rear devices 21 being associated with a similar but "longer `carrier strip `and bracket structure '29. The `four latching y'and hinging devices 21 are all alike or substantially so, and therefore to ra large extent a description yof one will suflice.

The -bolt member of `each latching and hinging device is indicated at 30, the hinge or pivot member for the bolt member at 3|, and the baillike part or loop on the bolt member is indicated at 32.

The rear transverse carrier strip 29 is shown in Fig. 3, and in part in Fig. 4. This strip is suitably connected to the hood lid in a manner to reinforce the same, the connection to the lid being effected by suitable means, as by welding. The strip is preferably made of sheet metal, and at its end adjacent each side margin of the lid it is shaped to provide a bracket 33 with which the bolt member cooperates, said bracket having an approximately horizontal lower panel or leg 35 spaced downwardly from the lid provided with an aperture 34 through which the bail-like part or pilot head 32 can project upwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 4. The bracket 33 of sheet metal provides part of a resilient or springy keeper structure, and another part of this structure is provided by a bent sheet metal member 36 in which the end portion of the torsion rod is journaled, the member 36 having an apertured base 31 through which the bail or pilot member 32 extends, said base 31 being secured against the upper face of the panel or leg 35 by means such as bolts 38. The base 31 is provided with an aperture 38a somewhat smaller than the aperture provided in the part 35. The member 36 is corrugated or ribbed in order to give it greater strength, and it is bent upwardly from the base portion and then laterally to provide an upper overhanging portion 39, which, in the latched position of the lid, overlies the upper end of the bail or pilot member 32 with a certain amount of clearance. The arrangement is such that the generally U- shaped member 36 is disposed horizontally to rest on its side in the space between the bracket 33 and the upper wall of the lid, with the extremities of the member 36 directed toward the side margin of the lid. The upper part 39 of the member 36 has at its free extremity a bent or rolled-up part 40, which provides a journal for the torsion rod near its crank-like extremity. The bail 32 has parallel upwardly projecting side walls joined together near the top by a crosspin 4|, and when the lid is inthe latched position the extremity or detent 25 of the torsion rod has the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, there being a downwardly extending arm portion and an inwardly extending arm portion, the inwardly extending arm portion being directed away from the side of the lid, and being in enpivots in this particular case being constituted by pins passing through registering holes in the two members, and having riveted-over or upset ends. indicated at 45. The bolt member not only has the upright side walls previously referred to, but also an integral bottom member 46 which extends substantially throughout the length of the bolt member and creates a member of channeled cross section. The narrow part 43 of the bolt member and the wide part 44 extend at an obtuse angle to each other.

The mounting bracket 44a, mentioned above, is adapted to be secured in place in a notch in the side wall of the engine Well, and has a portion, extending laterally and outwardly from the side Wall of the well, in which the bolt member is hinged. The bracket member has parallel side walls 41 to which the bolt member is pivoted in the manner previously described, and the walls 41 are interconnected by an upper wall 4B. Adjacent the side wall of the engine well the walls 41 are provided with integral laterally bent lugs 49 provided with vertically elongated slots 50 in which are engaged screw members 5| by means of which the mounting bracket is held in place. Usually a layer of metal or other suitable material, indicated at 52, is interposed between the lugs 49 and the side wall of the well. The inner part of the mounting bracket presents an open mouth portion in which the bolt member can operate, this mouth portion being defined at the lower part by integral tongues 53 which extend toward each other and underlie the bolt member. The function of these tongues is to support the bolt member from beneath by engaging it intermediate of its ends, the bolt member when so supported having the position shown in Fig. 8, for example. In this position the part of the bolt member within the engine well is approximately horizontal.

The bail or pilot head 32 is located intermediate of the ends of the side walls of the bolt member which are located within the engine well, and the upper edges of the side walls which gagement with the under portion of the crossy pin 4| for holding the bolt member within the keeper structure. For centering the bail or pilot in the keeper structure, the edges of the former disposed toward the margin of the lid are preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 4, and the side walls of the bail are preferably arched for centering purposes, as shown in Fig. 12, there being arch-shaped portions which lie immediately below straight portions in which the crosspin member 4| is received. This pin member is preferv ably shouldered between the opposite walls of the bail and fastened in place by upsetting the ends, as indicated at 42.

As will be seen from Figs. 6 and 12, the body of the bolt member 30 is constructed of sheet f The side walls of the Wide part are secured to a mounting bracket 44a by two pivots 3l, these are on opposite sides of the bail or pilot head are adapted to make contact with the lower surface of the contact plate provided by the panel 35. When, however, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the left-hand extremity only of the bolt member makes contact with the panel, the upper edge of the bolt body in such case being disposed at an acute angle to the contact plate. The reason for this will appear later on.

The torsion-rod-swinging device 26, previously mentioned, is of the type shown in the Moore Patent 2,000,245, and comprises a mounting plate 54 mounted on a bracket 55 attached to the inner surface of the lid. As in the patent mentioned, the torsion rod 24 is provided intermediate of its ends with a bent semi-circular part engaged by a member 56 having a swivel connection with the plate 54, indicated at 51. In this particular case the swinging actuating member 56 for turning the rod on its axis is provided with an arm 58 having pivotal connection with a connecting rod 59, the rear extremity of which is operably connected to the lever-type actuating device 23, previously mentioned. The device 23, involving a swinging actuating lever, may be of any appropriate kind for the purpose.' In the form illustrated the lever is fulcrumed on the lid intermediate of the ends of the lever by a fulcrum 60, and the connecting rod 59 is pivoted at 6I to an inwardly extending post rigid with one end p0rgen-,err

tion of the lever 2:3. When the torsion rod is in a position corresponding tothe lunlatched position of the corresponding llatch devices, 'the lever 123 has the outwardly .swung position with reference to `the lid shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 10. When, however, the lid is in position forllatching, the crank-likeextremities of the torsion `rod may be moved to the 'latching position `byswinging .fthe lever 23 from the position just indicated `to the position shown in full lines in Fig. l0. In Fig. l0 the parts are .shown as viewed from the 'inner face of the lid, and the lever, in moving `to the outward position, .may move, in part, 'in asuitable slot or aperture vin the lid.

The inner edge of the `upper wall f4.8 of `the mounting `bracket which is adjacent the .mouth portion of the bracket is adapted to lact as a stop limiting the upward swing of the bolt member.

As the crank extremities of the torsion rod normally depend in a position such as shown in Fig. 8 when the torsion rod is in the released position, the hood may be closed down bya downwardly tilting motion, which causes the upper keeper structure to move down over the head or bail of the bolt member. At this time the .bolt member is held in its lowermost position by the stops 53, and the lower contact plate of the keeper structure `will rest upon the upper edges of the bolt member body. Then, by actuation of the torsion rod, the lid can-be latched at the Aside in question. In doing this the extremity of the `crank of the torsion rod is swung from the dottedline position of Fig. 4- to the full-line position, the tipY of the crank extremity moving up against the lower surface of the crosspin. As the tip .of the crank presses upwardly against the crosspin, there is a springing and downward twisting movement of the upper part of the resilient keeper element .36, while at the same time there is 'a lifting and swinging of the bolt member until its upper body edges make contact at their extremities with the upper keeper structure at the left-hand side of the bolt head or bail, .as shown in Fig. 4.- Not only is the keeper member 36 sprung or tensioned to a certain extent, but likewise the upper bracket 33, which is likewise `of springy material. The inner extremity vof .the bolt member contacts the keeper structure, while the upper edge of the bolt member extends at lan acute angle to the contact plate of the keeper. Under the conditions stated the inner end of the bolt has a lpivot point or region against the contact plate, and the bolt member can be cammed upwardly while the upper edge of the bolt and the lower face of the contact plate remain at an acute yangle to each other, thus insuring ample winding or energizing of the resilient torsion rod to bring the lid to a tightly closed position. The torsion rod is effectively held in the latched position 'by means such as described in Patent 2,000,245, or like means, with the torsion rod under considerable tension or twisting stress.

In the latching oi the lid, as just described, the side of the lid is pulled downwardly and the underlying portion of the bolt pulled upwardly. As the .bolt is pulled upwardly, with its inner end in contact with the keeper plate to act as a pivot, the bolt has sufcient swing in reference to the pivot point just mentioned to move its right-hand end (Fig. 4) upwardly sufliciently to take all play or looseness out of Ythe hinge-pin connection of f in Fig. 4. In `other words, `the lid will A"be supported upon-'the points `:of .contact provided at the inner extremities .of the :two bolt members. When, however, :the 'latch :device :opposite the one shown in Fig. 4 is released, the eacute angle condition previously :mentioned will no longer exist, vand as the lid is .raised .from .thezside-opposite Fig. 4, lthe upper edge .of the :bolt .member will 'be in lcontact with the .contact plate at both :sides Aof the bolt head, .as .shown 'in Fig. '7.

'It will be seen ifrom' the :foregoing 4.description that, in lat'ched position, the .lid .is very eiiectively .clamped place, land the devices previously described, arranged at iopposite sides of .the lh'ood, interact lwith each .other in `an effective manner `ato prevent .the :fluttering yof the hood on rough roads. The Atorsion rod can be very fully twisted :in latching the lid so as to'obtain a full closing; .zand the` torsion `rod is effectively held ,in the latched position. The interaction .between the bolt member and the :keeper and detent structures isvery eeetive'eliminating any looseness `'in this :part of 'the device which would `cause rattling, .and in the :latched position any looseness or play is 4taken out iof the pivotal con-nect'ion between the bolt Amember and its mounting. The device, moreover, is simpler and less-expensive than previous devices provided for the same .general-purposes.

It will be .noted that Ithe :bolt member is a shallow'member dept'hwise with respect tto the :engine well, the .upper obtuse `angle between its -two inclined straight :por-tions or arms .being of the order yof Thiszisafeaturefoffsimplicity and advantage yin comparison to;previous hingring members used indual-tip hoods.

By reference'to Figs. '1, 2 and 9 vit will be .apparent that the mounting plate 5t for the rodturning 4mea-ns als substantially horizontally fdisposedat'thesideof 4the lid :between the lid ends.

"Various `m'oeliiications and' changes .may be made 4in 4'the structure without departing .from the #principles of the *invention for 'the scope .of the claims.

What I claim is:

`1. Ina latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper and detent structure radaptedto "be carriedby the lid'adjacent its margin, and an `upwardly movable bolt vmember adapted to lbe carried by the fixed part of the Iengine enclosure and adapted to cooperate with said keeper and detent structure comprising a bolt fixedly hinged at a Vpoi-nt laterally and outwa-rdly of the engine Ienclosure, said bolt having substantially straight portions located atan obtuse Aangle to ea'c'h lother'andconnected substantia-ll-y end to end and respectively located withi-n andwi'thout the enclosure, the part within the enclosure having intermediate -of 'its ends a protruding bail-like-part to'cooperate with the keeper vand :detent lstructure by penetrating and being latched in a 'keeper vopen-ing, said bolt having an 'upwardly lfacing channel providing sheetkmetal side walls and said bail-like part being constituted partially by portionsof said'wa'lls `and partially by a lcrosspin 4extending between said walls, the part of Said bolt located without the 'engine enclosure being a -wide part and the part `within `the engine enclosure Ibeing relatively narrow.

2. In latch mechanism for `adua-l-tip hoodlid, `the `combination of 'a keeper and detent structure adapted to `be carried by -the llidadjacent-its margin, and an upwardly `movable bol-t member 'adapted 4to y'be carried -by the *fxed' partv of the engine enclosurerand adapted *to cooperate with said keeper and detent structure comprising a `bolt which in the closed position of the lid is approximately horizontal and has a fixed pivot at the end farthest from the longitudinal axis of the engine enclosure and is provided with a straight part connected substantially end to end to another straight part extending at an obtuse angle to the rst straight part, said latter part being provided with a protruding bail-like element extending upwardly to cooperate with the keeper and detent structure by penetrating and being latched in a keeper opening, both of said straight parts being formed as upwardly facing channels, and means engaging said bolt at the underneath part adjacent the junction of said straight parts for supporting the bolt in the position mentioned, said last-named means being formed as a part of a mounting bracket to which the bolt is hinged.

3. In latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper and detent structure adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin, and an upwardly movable bolt member adapted to be carried by the xed part of the engine enclosure and adapted to cooperate with said keeper and detent structure comprising a bolt which in the closed position of the lid is approximately horizontal and has a fixed pivot at the end farthest from the longitudinal axis of straight part connected substantially end to end to another straight part extending at an obtuse angle to the first straight part, said latter part being provided with a protruding bail-like element extending upwardly to cooperate with the keeper and detent structure by penetrating and being latched in a keeper opening, and means engaging said bolt at the underneath part intermediate of its ends for supporting the bolt in the position mentioned, said last-named means being formed as a part of a mounting bracket to which the bolt is hinged, said mounting bracket being provided with a mouth and said supporting means being constituted by stop members at the lower part of said mouth.

4. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin comprising a bracket member substantially in the form of a U resting on its side and having in the lower part thereof a keeper aperture spaced downwardly from the lid adapted to receive a bolt part, a detent member journaled in the upper part of said member comprising a torsion rod having a depending latching extremity, and a bolt member adapted for hinging at one end to a fixed part of the engine enclosure at a point laterally and outwardly of the lid, said bolt member having relatively straight portions arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and having the end of one substantially meeting the end of the other, the portion remote from the bolt hinge having an upwardly extending bail-like part located intermediate of its ends and adapted to enter the keeper aperture and to be engaged interiorly by the depending latching extremity of said torsion rod to latch the lid.

5. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper structure and a detent structure adapted to be carried by the lid, the keeper structure comprising a bracket having upper and lower arms and an aperture in the lower arm spaced downwardly from the lid adapted to receive a bolt part and the detent structure comprising a torsion rod journaled in the upper part of said bracket and having adjacent the bracket a depending crank-like extremity, anda bolt having two substantially straight portions at an obtuse angle to each other connected substantially end to end adapted for location respectively within and without the engine enclosure, the portion outside of the engine enclosure being hinged to the xed structure of the automobile to swing in a vertical plane, said portions having an upwardly facing channel and the portion of said bolt inside of the engine enclosure having intermediate of its ends an upwardly projecting head adapted to enter said keeper aperture and be latched therein by the depending extremity of said torsion rod, said last-named bolt portion having at the upper part thereof and at the respective sides of the bolt head a body edge which in the latched position extends at an acute angle to the opposing portion of the keeper structure.

6. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper structure and a detent structure adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin, the keeper structure comprising an apertured plate spaced downwardly from the top of the lid and the detent structure comprising a torsion rod with a crank-like extremity, the torsion rod being journaled at a point substantially above the keeper aperture, and an upwardly movable bolt member adapted for hinging to the xed part of the engine enclosure having an upwardly facing channel and relatively straight parts connected substantially end to end and disposed at an angle of substantially to each other, one of said parts being hinged to the xed part of the engine enclosure and the other part carrying a bolt head intermediate of the ends of said other part adapted to enter the keeper aperture and be latched therein by engagement of said head by the crank-like extremity of the torsion rod, the innermost of the bolt parts being adapted to extend beyond said aperture and underlie said plate.

7. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper and detent structure adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin, and an upwardly movable bolt member adapted to cooperate with said keeper and detent structure and to be xedly hinged at a point laterally and outwardly of the engine enclosure, said bolt member having a portion operating within the enclosure which is substantially straight and in the latched position of the hood is substantially horizontal, said portion being formed as an upwardly facing channel and being provided intermediate of its ends with an upwardly extending bail structure including the sides of the channeled member, said bail being adapted to cooperate w-ith the keeper and detent structure by extending into and being latched in an aperture formed in a keeper plate, the portion of said bolt member outside of the engine enclosure being formed as an upwardly facing channel and being hinged at its outer end to a fixed part and in the latched position of the hood extending upwardly from the outer end of the rst portion to the hinge at a relatively slight inclination, the bolt portion operating within the enclosure being adapted to extend beyond said :aperture and underlie said plate.

8. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper and detent structure adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin, a bolt member adapted to be fixedly hinged at a point laterally and outwardly of the engine enclosure and having a straight portion which in the latched position of the hood is substantially horizontally disposed within the engine enclosure, said straight portion being provided with a protruding bail-like part to cooperate with the keeper and detent structure by penetrating and being latched in a keeper openlng, and a downwardly inclined bracket member to which said bolt member is hinged extending downwardly and inwardly from the hinge and provided with a portion through which said bolt member extends, said bracket portion being adapted t0 support the bolt member from beneath the latter.

9. In a latch mechanism for a dual-tip hood lid, the combination of a keeper adapted to be carried by the lid adjacent its margin com-prising a member substantially in the form of a U resting on its side with its terminals disposed toward a side of the lid and having a keeper opening in the lower side spaced downwardly from the lid body, a detent member journaled in the upper part or side of the said U-shaped member adjacent the terminal of :said side comprising a tors-ion rod having a depending latching extremity, and a bolt member comprising a laterally extending substantially straight portion underlying the lid having an upstanding part adapted to extend into and be latched in said keeper opening and also comprising a second portion joined to the first and having an end pivot for bringing to a fixed part spaced laterally and outwardly from the lid.

ARTHUR CLAUD-MAN'I'LE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

